Grading table



Dec. 13, 1960 MATHEWS 2,964,183

GRADING TABLE Filed May 14, 1958 2 SheetsSheet 1 Fig.2

Robert M. Mathews INVENTOR.

Dec. 13, 1960 Filed May 14', 1958 R. M. MATHEWS 2,964,183

GRADING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :I II I Robert M. Mathews 1N VEN TOR.

' and rollers are rotatably received in these rails.

United States Patent GRADING TABLE Robert M. Mathews, 101 47th St. W., Bradenton, Fla.,

Filed May 14, 1958, Ser. No. 735,282

'3 Claims. (Cl. 209-123) This invention relates generally to tables, and more particularly to a table especially adapted for grading and/or sorting.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a grading table wherein the articles to be graded or sorted, such as flowers, may be moved directly from the grading surface into the proper bin location.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein a stationary table top is provided having bins located at one end thereof, and a slidable table top mounted thereon which may be moved longitudinally of the table frame.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein a grader may move the table from location to location by simply leaning against the table and then moving in the direction required, whereby the movable table top will follow these movements of the grader.

An even further object of this invention is to allow quicker and easier grading of flowers, because of the fact that the flowers to be sorted may be graded on the movable top, and then dropped into the proper bin, which, when the movable top is correctly positioned, will be located directly below one end edge of the table, so that the flowers may be moved off of this end of the slidable table top and dropped into the proper bin.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a movable table top which may be easily moved, since the movable table top has depending straps on which rollers are mounted, which rollers are in turn mounted in rails on the longitudinal table frame.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

This invention contemplates a table constructed of a substantially elongated frame, having transverse bins formed in one end portion thereof, such bins having a closed back. The other end portion of the table has a permanent top mounted thereon. Rails are provided and extend longitudinally on both sides of the frame,

A second or movable table top is mounted above the first table top by having straps extending between the rollers and the movable top. Thus, the movable top may be moved longitudinally of the frame so as to cover the permanent top, or expose one or several of the bins which in turn have open tops.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a grading table comprising the present invention;

2,964,183 Patented Dec. 13, 1960 Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper rear portion of the table illustrating the rear rollers of the movable top;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by section line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the mounting of one of the rollers in the rail.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the table comprising the present invention. This table has elongated vertical legs 12 and 14 at one end thereof, and other legs 16 and 18 at the other end thereof. The legs 12 and 16 are at the front of the table and legs 14 and 18 are at the rear. A forward connecting member 20, extends between the forward legs 12 and 14, while a rear connecting member 22 is fixed between the rear legs 14 and 18. An end member 24 extends between side legs 16 and 18. An end member 26 is also connected to legs 16 and 18 at their upper ends and is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the member 24.

A bottom plate 28 is connected to the frame and overlies the reinforcing members 20 and 22, overhanging the member 20 which is at the front of the table. This plate 28 extends the full depth of the table and has a lateral projection 30 extending outwardly from the front portion thereof so that the forward portion of bottom plate 28 extends fully the entire length of the table, and is connected to the legs 12, 14, and 16. At the point where lateral extension 30' joins bottom plate 28, is a vertical member 32, which is parallel to and in alignment with leg 16. Another reinforcing member 34 extends from vertical member 32 to leg 16, and is mounted parallel to reinforcing member 20. Transverse members 36 and 38 are mounted on horizontal member 34, and are connected at their rear portions to a longitudinal reinforcing member 40. Member 38 is disposed in alignment with the vertical member 32, and the transverse members 26, 36 and 3-8 form a supporting frame for fixed table top 42, which extends approximately one-half the length of the table frame.

The bins are constructed of a plurality of vertically mounted plates which are spaced and parallel to each other and designated by the numerals 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54 respectively. The member 44 is connected to the inner surfaces of legs 12 and 14, and the member 54 is connected to vertical member 32, horizontal member 34, and transverse member 38. A rear plate 56- is afiixed to the rear edges of all these panels and to the member 40 so as to provide bins which have an open front and open top only.

A rail 58 is connected to the outer surface of forward reinforcing member 20, and a similar rail 60 is connected to the outer surface of upper rear reinforcing member 40. Within these rails are mounted rollers 62 which are supported by the lower legs of the rails. Each of the rollers rotates upon a shaft 64 which is fixed to a strap member 66 which has an angle member 68 and a flange 70, into which the shaft 64 is fixedly mounted. It is to be noted that while the rearward straps are of the same general type and shape as the forward straps, the vertical dimension of the rear straps is considerably smaller, so as to accommodate the rearward rollers 62 in the rail 60. The upper portions of the straps have upper angled members 72 which are bent inwardly, and to which is connected sliding table top 74. The movable top 74 has a guide plate 76 projecting upwardly from one end thereof, and a support plate 78 projecting upwardly from one front corner of of each of 'the'bins' are indicated at 82.

principles of the invention.

be placed upon table top 74 in alignment with plate 78, and corresponding indicia 82 is located at the front In use, as for intsance when grading flowers, the bundles of flowers may be placed upon the stationary top 42. Flowers to be immediatelygrad'ed may be placed upon the movable top 74 to the left of gaging indicia 80, and a grader may move the'flowers from left to right bringing the flowers across the grade chart 80 and from this determining into which bin to drop the flowers. For instance, the largest grade of flowers may be dropped in a first bin (the one on the left for instance), the second grade in the next bin, etc. The position of the movable top 74 may be selected by the grader at any time by simply moving to the right or to the left, While applying a slight pressure against the table so that the table top will move with the movement of the person. It is sometimes found preferable to have spaced bars projecting outwardly from the forward portion of movable table top 74, so that a grader may stand therebetween and the table top will move with him. The use of the sliding top makes it possible to place the flowers in the bins with the least amount of effort, since the grader may place the right hand edge of the table top as viewed in Figure 1 over the proper bin and simply drop the flowers into the correct bin.

Thus, it may now be seen that there has been shown and described a new and improved type of grading table which makes the grading and sorting of flowers considerably easier.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a grading table, the combination of a horizontally elongated supporting frame including front and rear pairs of upright legs, a front longitudinal member extending between the front legs in a plane spaced downwardly from the top of said frame, a rear longitudinal member extending between the rear legs horizontally coplanar with the front longitudinal member, an upper longitudinal member extending between the rear legs at the top of the frame, a bottom panel mounted on said front and rear longitudinal members and extending from one end of the frame to substantially the longitudinal center thereof, a plurality of spaced vertical panels provided on said bottom panels and extending upwardly therefrom to the top of said frame and providing in one end portion of the frame a plurality of bins open at the top and front thereof, a back panel for said bins secured to said vertical panels at the rear of the frame, 'a stationary table top extending from substantially the longitudinal center of the frame to the other end thereof, elongated tracks provided on said front longitudinal member and on said upper longitudinal member at the front and rear of the frame respectively, a set of relatively long front supports and a set of relatively short rear supports disposed respectively at the front and rear of the frame and extending upwardly from the respective tracks to a common horizontal plane above said stationary table top, rollers provided at the lower ends of said supports and engaging said tracks, and a movable table top secured to upper ends of said supports and overlying said frame, said movable table top corresponding to substantially one-half the length of the frame and being movable longitudinally thereof from a position above the startionary top to a position above said bins.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with an upstanding ledge provided at one side edge of said movable table top.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said front supports for said movable table top constitute the sole structural elements disposed forwardly of said bins, whereby the open fronts of the bins are substantially free of obstruction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,558,234 Bunn Oct. 20, 1925 1,913,319 Wolters June 6, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 987,211 France Apr. 11, 1951 738,696 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1955 244,005 Switzerland Feb. 17, 1947 

